German china, a luxury product world-wide, relies on a steady home market among people who obsess over getting the settings for meals right, with dinner plates, soup tureens and cups all expected to match.
To copy that sophisticated look, you need the best grades of porcelain and glazes in tableware. But when it comes to colour, Germans are not complicated at all. They prefer plain white; white saucers, cups and bowls are eternal best-sellers.
Manufacturers don't think that's going to change any time soon, but there will be more room on Germany's dining tables for some colour.
It turns out that gold as well as floral and nature-inspired designs, more common outside Germany, are now getting a look in too.
Several porcelain makers have gone for the floral look in their collections this year. Slender leaves, magnificent flowers and elaborate jungle themes can be found on plates, cups and saucers.
Meanwhile, other designers have gone for dancing-animal themes to decorate their tableware.
Most Germans like to have a basic set of white dishes in the home as well as a few unusual pieces to liven things up, explains Hermann Hutter who works for a trade association that represents Germany's tableware makers.
"They like to have something that attracts attention and to break up the white." With this in mind, several manufacturers have created sets based on their basic white design but with some floral, animal or graphic patterns.
"We've discovered that mixing and matching tableware has become a real trend," confirms Simone Struve from German ceramics maker Villeroy & Boch. "Sometimes it's just a plate that is noticeable." Or perhaps a vase in the middle of the table.
"Young people in particular don't want to have a boring table," says Gianluca Colonna from Rosenthal. "When everything is white, it's usually quite underwhelming." It just takes a little colour to transform a table into something special.
Many of the new designs are very simple and modern looking. ASA Selection has a new 12-piece set called Oco that is without any frills. The eye-catching thing about Oco is that the exterior of each piece is matt while the inside is glossy.
Contrasts like that are another trend in German-made tableware right now.
Many of the new dinner sets have very eye-catching designs. Hummingbirds, gorgeous butterflies, passionflowers and orchids decorate Villeroy & Boch's new Amazonia Anmut set.
The company began using nature themes in 2011 and has expanded the idea every year since, thanks to strong sales. Rosenthal has gone for plant designs on its Les Fruits du Jardin set. Designer Regula Stuedli photographed beautiful plants and fruits, retouched the photos on a computer and then created colourful still-life montages.
Gold tableware is very popular in Russia and Middle Eastern countries, but now Germans are discovering how luxurious it can be too. Ceramics manufacturer Dibbern's Ornament series consists of black tableware with golden circles.
Kahla's Magic Grip series is decorated with several golden patterns such as very fine leaves.
Some designers have chosen slightly warmer copper and bronze to decorate their sets.
Designers are also experimenting when it comes to shape. There is more than just circular and square to choose from in the new sets.
Alessi's breakfast set Dressed has a new coffee service with a plate that has a place for a coffee cup and a morsel of food.
"If you live in a city you really know the benefit of having practical household items," says Siru Nori from Iittala, the Finnish tableware company.
Not only do the new tableware sets have to be combinable, thanks to bright colours, they also have to fulfil more functions. Along with several other tableware makers, Iittala has followed through on this idea by creating saucers that also double as plates.